Chapter 37

In the main tent, Zhao Zheng and He Ping sat as host and guest, with Zhao Zheng's deputy Wen Fang and military advisor He Chuan accompanying them. Apart from these few, the large main tent was empty. Zhao Zheng, who had already transformed from a doting father back into a general, said embarrassedly, "I apologize for my behavior. This expedition has kept me away from home for several months. Seeing Xiaoyue today made me lose my composure, and I fear I have made a spectacle of myself. Please do not hold it against me."

He Ping smiled and said, "It is only natural for a father to love his children, especially after not seeing them for months. How could we blame the general?"

He Chuan, standing beside him, also agreed, "Indeed, it is the thought of our families back home that gives us the motivation and courage to fight. This human sentiment is not only harmless but beneficial."

Seeing that the others were no longer mentioning the incident, Zhao Zheng smoothly moved on, focusing his attention on He Ping. He Ping had been away for several days and had suddenly returned, which must mean something important. The army of Lances Province had not yet withdrawn, and the spies planted in the enemy ranks could not relay any information. What exactly was Wolf planning? Zhao Zheng had been feeling uneasy these past few days, fearing that the army of Lances Province might attack.

He Ping began, "General Zhao, isn't it quite normal for both sides to send spies during a war?"

Although unsure of He Ping's intent, Zhao Zheng nodded and said, "That's correct. Although this war is between Tianhua and Okland, and our armies do not have soldiers from the other side, there are always some people with weak wills who can be bought with money. These people exist in both armies and, given the opportunity, will pass information to the enemy for money."

"Indeed, but those who would sell their country for a little money must not hold high positions, right?"

"That's true. Higher-ranking soldiers have decent incomes and understand that their foundation lies in the country and the army, so they would not betray their country. The spies we control are mostly low-ranking soldiers in the Lances Province army. As ordinary soldiers, their pay is pitifully low, and if their families need money in an emergency, they might resort to any means."

He Ping nodded in understanding. Although he had no knowledge of such matters, he could grasp the logic. However, this led to a question he couldn't understand. He asked, "My name, I assume, is known by only a few in the army, right? Apart from some generals, only General Zhao's guards know it. I'm not sure if they would spread it around."

After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Zheng replied, "They probably wouldn't. The generals are usually busy with military affairs and don't have time to chat with the soldiers. My guards are trained separately and have a heavy workload, so their rest times do not overlap with those of the soldiers. They likely don't have the opportunity to spread it."

He Ping said, "To be honest, I found some military reports in the Lances Province camp that contained detailed information about me, including my name."

"What! This..." Zhao Zheng was shocked. If this were true, it would mean that there were Okland spies among the higher-ranking officers. Zhao Zheng had just stated that his spies were all low-ranking soldiers, and now the enemy's spies were of a higher rank, which was a slap in the face.

"Wen Fang!"

"Here!" Hearing his name called, Wen Fang immediately stood up, awaiting Zhao Zheng's orders.

"Go and investigate! Find out who it is! Don't alarm the generals yet. Start with my guards. Look for anyone who has been acting strangely recently, and check if any of them are in dire need of money. The guards' pay should not be low, so they shouldn't be in financial trouble unless something major has happened. But if something major has happened, why haven't I heard about it? This is strange!"

As Wen Fang left the tent, Zhao Zheng and He Chuan both looked grave. A high-ranking spy was a serious issue in the army. Ordinary spies could obtain only limited information, and even if they passed it on, the enemy would need to analyze and filter it to get any useful information. But a high-ranking spy was different. If not found, it could pose a significant threat in future battles, potentially leading to a crisis at any time.

The tent fell silent, as the news He Ping brought was too significant. Even if the spy was one of the guards, it was a serious matter. These guards were often by Zhao Zheng's side and were present during many discussions of military affairs. If they heard confidential information and passed it on, or if they posed a threat to Zhao Zheng's safety at a critical moment, the consequences would be dire.

Wen Fang's efficiency was impressive. Before long, he returned to the main tent. Seeing Zhao Zheng's inquiring gaze, Wen Fang's face showed a hint of shame as he said, "It's Zhao Bing."

Wen Fang was responsible for managing Zhao Zheng's guards. Now that a problem had been found among them, he felt embarrassed and would bear some responsibility once the evidence was confirmed. However, Zhao Zheng had no time to worry about that. He knew the names of all his guards and was not unfamiliar with this Zhao Bing.

"Zhao Bing? He should be a distant relative of the Zhao family, right? If I remember correctly, he is already married, and his pay is not low, which should be enough for his family's expenses. His family also has a certain foundation, so even if something happened, it shouldn't have driven him to take such risks. And he never mentioned any family issues to me?"

Wen Fang explained, "It's not a family issue. He had a leave recently. During his leave, while hunting, he met an Okland woman who had fled from Lances Province. That scoundrel took her as his concubine, but he didn't dare tell anyone else or his wife, so he kept her secretly. He needed to send his pay home, so to support his concubine, he first borrowed money from his fellow soldiers. But they soon began to suspect him, and with no other options, he resorted to taking risks."

"That scoundrel! I'll kill him!" Zhao Zheng was so angry that his nose was almost out of place. Having a concubine was one thing, but during a war, taking an Okland woman and selling information to support her was unforgivable!

"General, please calm down! We'll deal with the spy later. I have a small plan. Now, let's get to the main matter. I didn't return just to report on the spy. I have a gift for you, General!" He Ping calmed Zhao Zheng down and waved his hand, and two tightly bound figures instantly appeared in the tent.

[PS: First update of the day!]

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